Comparative Evaluation of Investigation Testing Methods in Timber Elements considering Moisture Content

ABSTRACT

Wood components in existing buildings suffer from deterioration and damage due to environmental conditions and loading effects. Their preservation strongly depends on the knowledge level of their onsite condition supported by the application of low-intrusive methods of investigation. Estimating the mechanical performance of wood in constructions cannot disregard the evaluation of moisture content. In this paper, 31 wood elements (19 recovered from disassembled buildings and 12 new) underwent a series of non-destructive tests (i.e., ultrasonic and sonic stress wave methods) and semi-destructive tests (i.e., resistance drilling and pin penetration). Red/white firs and pine species constituted the recovered elements; red fir and larch the new ones. The effect of moisture content on the results of low-intrusive methods was estimated by either electric or electromagnetic devices. Destructive tests (in bending and compression) were also carried out on 10 recovered and six new elements, and results were correlated with those of semi-destructive tests.

KEYWORDS:

• Moisture content
• pin penetration test
• pin-pushing
• resistance drilling
• sonic stress wave test
• ultrasonic test
• wooden species

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Bozza s.r.l. for the availability of the testing material and space for experimental tests; J. Hrivnák, F.P. Marchesini and L. Scancelli are acknowledged for their support in the experimental campaign and data processing.

CRediT statement

Conceptualization, methodology and validation: MRV, MD, MK, FC; Formal analysis, data curation and investigation: MRV, MD, MK; Writing - Original Draft: MRV, MD, MK; Writing - Review & Editing: MRV, MD, MK; Visualization: MRV; Resources and supervision: MRV, MD; Project administration and funding acquisition: MRV, MD.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially funded by the Italian project Corewood POR FESR Veneto 2014-2020 and supported by the ITAM institutional project RVO 68378297 – Strategie AV21.